Blogs from Efate, Vanuatu, Oceania - page 6

A lot has been going on................. well we left Viti Levu (Fji main island) about a week ago and spent a few nights at a chain of islands called the Yasawa's. It was a great way to really bond with the new crewmates cus we were instantly doing a ton of stuff. We sailed into this completely remote bay and anchored there. Then the skipper and the first mate took a gift of Kava root into shore and presented as a gft to the chief of the nearest village called Natawa. The chief then allows us free passage around the island. We were guided up the mountain and summited it, great climbing and views. On the way down we stopped at a waterful where these naive kids were jumping into the pools and joined them. That ... read more

I spent a couple of days in the happiest place on earth last month - Vanuatu (according to the Happy Planet Index). Most of the time was spent at a conference but I did get a chance to get out and see Port Vila as well as a day trip for some swimming and snorkelling.... read more

Port Villa, Vauatu August 2007 We are now in Port Vila, the capital. We are doing some major provisioning since from here we go to the remote northern Vanuatu Islands and then to the Solomon Islands, so it may be months before we get to a store by any description again. Port Vila is very expensive and we need to move along before we really blow the budget. It’s just so hard to pass up all the great French restaurants, wine, champagne followed by a little indulgence in the casinos. We justify this by saying we won’t spend any money for the next few months!?! I never thought I’d hear myself say, ‘I want a Wal-Mart’. Not until you leave the country for an extended length of time do you realize how cheap and bountiful products ... read more

Vanuatu is a country we didn't know very much about so were itching to get there and explore. What we did know is that the third world country is melanesian, not polynesian, their official language is French though most people speak pidgin English, and that it has been voted "happiest country on earth". We were welcomed at the airport by a local string band singing songs about Vanuatu. The songs were fantastic, although they gradually all began to sound very similar. Not to worry, this did not detract from the enthusiasm of the eight male singers and musicians who sang of their beloved homeland, keeping time with a consistent left to right stepwise dance. They wore custom dress, ususally a long colourful smock, and floral head dress. Their instruments included a bass string instrument fashioned out ... read more

I've crawled my way out of the bush and am refueling in the Capital for a bit. All is good. We have the land and a rough action plan to start the RTC, apparently I should be proud. I"ve been voted on to a PC Committee - Women in Development/Gender and Development. Which I'm sure all my female friends will be proud. Ok so you know you can contact me while I'm in town (if you hadn't know, it's been my sister updating my blog. ) - Christa... read more